Our Opinion: Federal consequences

Meals on Wheels program faces cuts

Too often we hear about the inability of Congress to do what is best for this country rather than be guided by political partisanship. Sometimes we feel the immediate impact of decisions made in Washington.

It's about to get to that point for Mark D. Baldino, president and CEO of Elder Care Services Inc., a nonprofit agency in Tallahassee. Mr. Baldino and his staff are getting word on what the automatic federal budget cuts will mean for seniors who depend on Elder Care Services for a hot meal and a safety net.

The federal cuts, or sequestration, are having an impact on government services and operations around the country. In Florida, that means a direct reduction in money for education, Head Start, law enforcement, public health and other programs.

What Mr. Baldino is concerned about is the $4 million that no longer will be available to provide meals for seniors in Florida.

His agency is facing a nearly 7-percent cut in money that is used to provide the Meals on Wheels program for homebound seniors, its Elder Day Stay clients and those who gather at one of eight "Senior Lunch Bunch" sites throughout Leon County.

Some of this community's most vulnerable seniors might no longer having a hot meal delivered. The agency currently provides about 1,200 hot meals daily and serves 562 seniors with frozen meals for the weekend. Volunteers and staffers also check on the welfare of the seniors and make recommendations for those needing other assistance.

The bottom line is disheartening: The loss of about $36,000 now for the meals program means a reduction of 52 meals per day. Some seniors who are receiving meals are going to be asked to pay, but for many that's not easy. The average age of these clients is 81, and most are without caretakers. And more than half suffer from dementia and other health considerations. In addition, those now receiving meals at home will be reviewed to determine if they can travel to a community center such as the Senior Center or the Smith-Williams Center to join the Senior Lunch Bunch. There are between 100 to 120 seniors on a waiting list for services.

"It is going to force us to make some hard decisions on who we can and can't serve," Mr. Baldino said. "I don't want to tell people we can't afford to provide them a meal. These cuts are real."

The agency now needs this community's help in offsetting the costs of these meals. You can send donations to Elder Care Services Inc., 2518 W. Tennessee St., Tallahassee, FL 32304, or visit the agency's website at www.ecsbigbend.org.

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Our Opinion: Federal consequences

Too often we hear about the inability of Congress to do what is best for this country rather than be guided by political partisanship. Sometimes we feel the immediate impact of decisions made in